 1995 Wessex Rally |  1995 Three Rivers Rally |
1995 Wessex Rally | 1995 Three Rivers Rally |
John Harmer/Sarah Harmer (Maestro) took first Semi-Experts, 6 minutes ahead of Barbara Carter/Peter Barnard (Corolla). Ian Woodley/Lez Page (205) were first home of the five Novice crews. Running on the same night as the Targa Rusticana depleted the entries in the historic section with Raj Karkera/Richard Dix first home in their Volvo.
The event was one of contrasts. At petrol many crews were clean, due mostly to the combination of straight-forward navigation with fast flowing roads. The second half, however, was much tougher both navigationally and routewise. Some crews had been caught out in the first half, one not as map triangle in particular proving troublesome. Crews suffered more from the ignominy of having to go back for the codeboard rather than actual time penalties accrued.
With map 164 not offering much in the way of route choice (other than the treacherous yumps on Tadpole Lane) the route out quickly lead off onto 163, twisting and turning to avoid the more populous areas. Photographer Andy Manston did good business at the very gravelly hairpin north of Fairford Airfield. Kingsley/PRAR, first on the scene as car 1, overcooked their handbrake turn somewhat, paving the way for others to take-off into the bushes.
Straight out from petrol at Cirencester the route cards took a turn for the more complex, the 'hidden' junction at North Cerney confusing many people. The next section from here used exits from grid squares to define the route. The need to include a give-way between the third and fourth instructions inserted an extra small loop which many crews missed. First to fall were Steve Cole/Bob Blows (car 2). The twenty minute penalty for missing the PC left them in tenth place. With the navigation stepped up, and the sections tightened the pressure was starting to mount.
With an avoid map references section to follow most crews were getting behind on their schedules. Not so Biss/Woodman, coping admirably with the not as map lay-by at Tomtit's Bottom on the A435. The route instruction indicated approach and departure in the same direction, and with the marshals out of sight, wrong approaches were a popular way of gaining a fail. From here the route took in the downhill hairpin at Withington, allowing Mr Manston to get some more photos, before looping back south to Rendecomb. With the damage done during the previous sections the pace was apparently eased a bit.
Not one to let crews off lightly, CoC Kevin Belcher threw in a few seemingly straight forward route instructions. Directions of departure from junctions the hand out said. The fact that one direction was off into some trees and the next took you to a PC was lost on some crews. Once again they had the ignominy of going back for the PC and suffering time penalties. The 'narrow' yellow on the old airfield at Chedworth was next to go into the equation - the narrow yellow in question is 4 lanes wide and appears to just end in a fence. Alert crews found the exit, also-rans did not.
With much of the best mileage used up, the route turned for breakfast, pausing only to take in a contour lines section just east of Carterton. With the results computer working quickly (for once) it was soon clear that Biss/Woodman had taken their second victory in three years. Of the six times the Bullnose has run Mike Biss has been the winner three times!
With the LCAMC championship at half way top spot is disputed between Kingsley/PRAR and Biss/Woodman. With worst scores to be dropped, there are still plenty of other crews in with a shout. With ACSMC leaders Andy Juniper/Dean Taylor not competing (Andy was co-driving on the Woodpecker Stages, Dean was relaxing on vacation), Kingsley/PRAR have closed the gap to 2 points in the ACSMC championship. Crews such as Ian Mepham/Martin Smith and Fiona Casey/Roger Davidson are still lying close behind, ready to take any chances they are offered.
